The Story of Han Xiangzi: The Alchemical Adventures of a Daoist Immortal

by Yang Erzeng, Philip Clart (Translator)

In this seventeenth-century Chinese novel, Han Xiangzi, best known as one of the Eight Immortals, seeks and achieves immortality and then devotes himself to converting his materialistic, politically ambitious Confucian uncle, Han Yu (a real historical figure), to Daoism. Written in lively vernacular prose interspersed with poems and songs, the novel takes its readers over vast distances across China, to the heavens, and into the underworld. Readers listen to debates among Confucians, Daoists, and Buddhists and witness trials of faith and the performance of magical feats. Similar in style, content, and vintage to the popular Buddhist novel Journey to the West (also known in English as Monkey), The Story of Han Xiangzi uses colorful characters, twists of plot, witty dialogue, and action suitable for a superhero comic book to convey its religious message--that worldly life is ephemeral and that true contentment can be found only through Daoist cultivation. This is the first translation into any Western language of Han Xiangzi quanzhuan (literally, The Complete Story of Han Xiangzi). On one level, the novel is a delightful adventure; on another, it is serious theology. Although The Story of Han Xiangzi's irreverent attitude toward the Confucian establishment prevented its being taken seriously by literary critics in imperial China, it has remained popular among Chinese readers for four centuries. Philip Clart's Introduction outlines the Han Xiangzi story cycle, presents Yang Erzeng in his social context, assesses the literary merits and religious significance of the text, and explores the theory and practice of inner alchemy. This unabridged translation will appeal to students of Chinese literature, readers who enjoy international fiction, and readers with an interest in Daoism.

Genres: Religion, China, Philosophy, Taoism

508 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2007

Reviews

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the perfect book that came to me at exactly the right time. Following the story of a crane boy, Han Xiangzi, as he achieves immortality and then attempts to help his family do the same -- not much happens, plot-wise, but what does happen is good. Witty storytelling really carries this novel, which does not become overly preachy or unpleasant. It is heavily interspersed with poetry and images, making for light reading. A good introduction to Daoism.

[Eadweard · Rating 4 out of 5]

During a recent trip I was lucky enough to find this book tucked away, hidden in the generic "eastern philosophy / religion" section of a bookstore.

The book is a didactic work masquerading as an adventure-fantasy story. The author wishes to entertain you and at the same time make you renounce wordly attachments so that you may cultivate yourself and follow the Way (and of course, eventually achieve immortality).

The translator did a great job introducing the text, his annotations are fantastic (so many 'obscure' daoist / alchemical references) and the translation seems to satisfy both scholars and casual readers.

In the book's preface, the author claims that; "except from the writings of the great historians (Sima Qian and Ban Gu), there is nothing that can quite measure up to this work." Apparently being humble is not a necessity when trying to achieve enlightenment.

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

This didactic novel teaches some principles of Taoism within a mythological frame: the story of Han Xiangzi, one of the Eight Immortals of Chinese legend. Having disturbed the divine Immortality Peach Assembly in a previous existence, Han Xiangzi is sent to be reborn into a mortal family until he can re-learn the path to immortality. As a young man, he acquires two Taoist masters as teachers, and one discussion they have with his uncle Tuizhi is interesting (p. 54):

   “Can humans have a constant mind that holds fast to the Dao?” Tuizhi asked.
   “Gold dust may be precious, but still it is harmful when caught in the eyes,” Master Lü returned.
   “How can I have a constant mind by being mindless?” Tuizhi asked.
   “One who once suffered from snow and frost will be startled by willow blossoms falling to the ground,” was Master Zhong’s reply.
   Tuizhi said, “How can I be mindless by having a constant mind?”
   “Don’t bother hanging up the old mirror. When the sky brightens, the rooster will crow by itself,” Master Zhong said.
   “Is the conscious mind completely false?” Tuizhi then asked.
   Master Lü said, “Without the spring wind the blossoms do not open, but once opened they are blown down by the same wind.”
   “Is being without a conscious mind alone to be sought after?” was Tuizhi’s next question.
   “When the light of the sun has not yet risen above the horizon, everyone awaits it with expectation, but once broad daylight is here, it is taken for granted,” Master Zhong answered.

Most of the book isn’t like that, but Han Xiangzi is inspired by his masters to cultivate himself and pursue immortality in the wilderness where they live. On his journey, his masters put him through several trials, during one of which there’s another nice mystical moment (p. 106):

   When Xiangzi looked carefully around the room, he saw that it was now completely empty. Thus he realized that everyone has this most precious treasure, and it is not necessary to withdraw to the stillness and solitude of the deep mountains to gain it. Those who regard it as far away have no grasp of it. Those who want to employ it recklessly reveal their attachment to the world of forms. Thereupon he closed his mouth, lowered his eyelids, and sat down cross-legged.

Anyway, Han Xiangzi becomes an immortal and ascends to heaven, where he is appointed Immortal of Universal Deliverance Who Opens the Primordium and Performs Magical Techniques, Greatly Initiating Transformation by His Teachings (p. 116). And that’s exactly what he does for the bulk of the novel. The Jade Emperor sends Han Xiangzi back to help his kin reattain lost immortality as well. In particular, Han Xiangzi spends a great deal of time trying to convince his uncle to detach himself from ordinary life and aspire to immortality, but his uncle doesn’t believe a word of it, even when Han Xiangzi performs magic like using his own vomit as food for a dog to turn the dog into an immortal crane or like conjuring a painting and stepping into it with his uncle. So Han Xiangzi goes to the underworld to rewrite his uncle’s destiny and seriously messes with his life to get him on the righteous path. Allegorically, all the stuff he puts him through makes this a Job-like story that explains why misfortune might befall even someone full of spiritual merit. Although it’s repetitive at times, it’s generally a pretty neat book.